Translator



Oct. 5, 1965 D. F. MONAHAN v 3,210,755

TRANSLATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 N A H A N m We 0 V L A N O D Ems 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

D. F. MQNAHAN TRANSLATOR 71 OUTPUT Oct. 5, 1965 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 United States Patent 3,210,755 TRANSLATOR Donald F. Monahan, Vestal, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,179 Claims. (Cl. 340-347) V This invention relates to code translators and more particularly to a system for translating character information expressed in one code configuration to a different code configuration.

A translator is a device which is employed to transfer information carried in one coding system to other coding systems encompassing difierent numbering basis and signalling methods. A variety of code translators have heretofore been proposed, as for example the one that is disclosed in US. Patent 2,369,474 issued February 13, 1945, to H. P. Luhn. Known translators vary widely with respect to the kinds of codes employed in the types of active elements utilized therein. Some of these translators are restricted to one specific type of translation, whereas others are more flexible. It has been continuously sought to improve code translators by reducing the number of active elements required therein, by decreasing the operating time thereof, by minimizing power requirements, and by reducing bulk and cost.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a code translator of improved structure and operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulse code translator incorporating a high degree of accuracy in its translation operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a pulse code translator capable of translation from a twoout-of-eight code system to a serial decimal pulse system.

Other objects of this invention are to increase reliability, to reduce the number of active elements required, to decrease operating time, and to reduce the size and cost of the translator. Briefly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the translator comprises a relay means of storing a character representation received over a telephone line according to a two-out-of-eight telephone code. The relays in turn serve to control a two-magnet step-bystep impulse unit. In response to the stepping action of the impulse unit, an emitter element associated therewith provides a serial output of pulses having character significance.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an electromagnetically operated impulse unit.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the reset mechanism of the impulse unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the impulse emitter mechanism of the impulse unit.

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical wiring of the elements employed in the translator system according to the present invention.

3,210,755 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing the timing of the electrical impulses for an illustrative example.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the representations of digital data in accordance with the two-out-of-eight telephone code.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an impulse unit mechanism adapted for use in the parallel to serial translation of character representing impulse signals. The parts and mechanism forming the impulse unit are carried by a support plate 40. Carried by a support plate 40 are two magnets consisting of a rock magnet 41 and an advance magnet 42 and interposed midway between the cores of these magnets is an armature 43 which is pivoted on a stud 44. In the normal position, the armature 43 is flat against the core of magnet 42, as shown in FIG. 1. The right hand end of the armature 43 has a fork connection 45 with an upstanding lever 46 which is pivoted on a stud 47. Pivoted on a stud 48 carried by the lever 46 is an operating pawl 49 and this pawl is urged by a spring 50 which is extended from a tail of the pawl 49 to a stud 51 carried by the lever 46, into engagement with a tooth of a ratchet wheel 42 attached to a shaft 53.

It is evident that when the armature 43 is attracted by the core of the energized rock magnet 41 it will rock the lever 46 clockwise about its pivotal stud 47 and pawl 49 will be moved to the right under the now idle ratchet wheel 52 to engage the next tooth to the right. In such position the pawl 49 is in a position to rotate the ratchet wheel 52 clockwise one ratchet tooth when the roc magnet 41 is deenergized, and advance magnet 42 is energized. When the advance magnet 42 is energized after magnet 41 is deenergized, the attraction of armature 43 by the core of magnet 42 will positively move the lever 46 counterclockwise to effect a one-tooth rotation of ratchet wheel 52. In this manner the impulse unit is advanced for each reciprocation of lever 46. Pivoted on a stud 54 is a retrograde preventing pawl 55 which cooperates with ratchet wheel 52. A spring 56 is interconnected between tails of the retrograde preventing pawl 55 and the stud 57 causing the retrograde preventing pawl 55 to engage ratchet wheel 52.

Transmission of alternating impulses to magnets 41 and 42 will cause a repetition of the above described operations and thus the impulse unit will be advanced a number of steps commensurate with a number of effective groups of impulses transmitted to the magnets 41 and 42.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cam 58 fixed to the shaft 53 is provided with two notches 59 and 60 which are alternately effective at each half revolution of the shaft 53 to rock the arm 61 about stud 62 and open the reset contacts 63 when the impulse unit has been restored to its zero position. The operation and function of these contacts will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pulse emitter 65 of the impulse unit comprises a plate of insulating material 66 which is secured by any suitable means to the support plate 40 and is stationary with respect to the rotatable wiper structure 67. This wiper structure fits over a flat portion 53a of the end of the shaft 53 and is secured thereto. The wiper structure consists of wipers 68 and 69, one of which makes contact with a common conducting segment 70 as the other wiper makes contact with digit representing contact elements which are carried by the plate 66. There is a diagrammatic showing of the emitter 65 in FIG. 4.

The operation of translating data from the two-out-ofeight telephone code to a serial pulse representation will become more fully apparent from the following description of the circuits which are diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4. The pulse timings for the illustrative example, as shown by the timing chart of FIG. 5 should serve to enhance the understanding of the circuit operation.

In order to illustrate how the translator system will accept character representing signals in accordance with the two-out-of-eight telephone code and convert it to serial character representing pulses, we will arbitrarily assume a digital character 8 represented by A3 and B-2 signals (FIG. 6) simultaneously applied to the A-3 and B-2 input terminals of FIG. 4 and show how these character representing signals are converted to a serial representation consisting of eight serially occurring pulses. The hold register relays R13 and R16 will be energized by the A-3 and 3-2 input signals and their hold coils will remain energized through the d points of the relays. The hold circuit is as follows: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the normally closed b points of relay R26, the normally closed b points of relay R30, the closed at points of relay R13, and the hold coil of relay R13 to ground. Similarly, the hold coil for the relay R16 will be energized.

In order to insure that there is one and only one relay energized in each signal level, namely, the A signal level and the B signal level, a checking network comprising the relays R28, R29, and R30 is used. If either of the relays R28 or R29 is individually energized, relay R30 will be energized. The energization of relay R30 is slightly delayed in order to allow adequate time for relays R28 and R29 .to become energized if the input is correct. In the instant example both of the relays R28 and R29 will be energized and therefore relay R30 will not be energized. The circuit by which relay R24 is energized is as follows: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the normally closed 1 points of relay R11, the normally closed points of relay R12, the transferred points of the relay R13, the normally closed 1 points of relay R14, and the coil of relay R28 to ground. The circuit for energizing relay R29 is as follows: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the normally closed 1'' points of relay R15, the transferred 1 points of relay R16, the normally closed 2 contact points of relay R17, the normally closed 1 contact points of relay R18, and the coil of relay R29 to ground. Both relays R28 and R29 are energized and consequently relay R34 will not be energized.

Consequently a circuit is completed to the pick coil of the sample relay R25. The circuit is as follows: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the a points of relay R28, the a points of relay R29, and the normally closed d points of relay R30, and the pick coil of relay R25 to ground.

In the instant example with sample relay R25 being energized and the hold register relays R13 and R16 being energized, a voltage is established at the 8 terminal of the emitter 65. The circuit by which this voltage is established is as follows: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the now closed b points of relay R25, the now closed 0 points of relay R13, the now closed 0 points of relay R16 to the 8 terminal of emitter 65. Also, the energization of sample relay R25 will cause the energization ofv the ratchet relay R23 through the following circuit: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the now closed d contacts of relay R25, the normally closed c contacts of relay R22, the normally closed b contacts of relay R24, and the coil of relay R23 to ground. The energization of ratchet relay R23 causes the energization of the rock magnet 41 through the now closed d points of relay R23. Also, the energization of ratchet relay R23 causes the advance relay R24 to be energized through the following circuit: from the plus voltage terminal 10 through the now closed d points of relay R25, the normally closed 0 points of relay R22, the now closed a points of relay R23, through the coil of relay R24 to ground. The energization of the advance relay R24 will through its a points cause the energization of advance magnet 42. At this time an output is established at terminal 71 through the c points of relay R24 and the normally closed 1 points of relay R22. The opening of the b contacts of relay R24 serves to deenergize the ratchet relay R23. The deenergization of ratchet relay R23 causes the advance relay R24 to be deenergized which in turn causes the ratchet relay R23 to be energized again. The alternate energizing of relays R23 and R24 causes a stepping action for the impulse unit. On each occasion that the advance magnet 42 is energized there will also be an output pulse occurring at the output terminal 71.

For each stepping action of the impulse unit, the Wiper structure 67 will advance until the wipers 68 and 69 complete the circuit between the common 70 and the 8 terminal of the emitter 65, which in the instant example is energized as previously explained. The voltage occurring at the 8 terminal will cause the pick coilofrelay R22 to be energized. Relay R22 will be held in an energized position through the now closed a points. The energization of relay R22 interrupts the supply of output pulses to terminal 71 by opening of the f points of relay R22, causes the deenergization of sample relay R25 through the opening of the normally closed b points of relay R22, and interrupts the stepping action to the impulse unit through the c points of relay R22 now open. Also, the energization of relay R22 through its d points completes a circuit to the reset relay R26. This causes the stepping action for the impulse unit to be resumed through the a points of relay R26 while the supply of output pulses remains interrupted. The energization of relay R26 causes the b points to open and thereby interrupt the hold circuit for all of the hold register relays R11 through R18, inclusive.

The impulse unit reset contacts 63 are closed during all the. positions of the impulse unit with the exception of the zero position. The impulse unit reset is achieved through th impulse unit reset contacts 63 being closed and in series with the a points of the relay R26 in closed position. This condition will cause the ratchet relay R23 and the advance relay R24 to be alternately ener gized and deenergized until such time that the impulse unit is restored to its zero position, thereby causing the reset contacts 63 to open and interrupt the reset circuit. It is again pointed out that during a reset operation, the relay R22 remains energized and will serve to interrupt the output pulse circuit so that no output pulses will occur at the output terminal 71 during the reset time. In the event that a 10 digital value is introduced into the translator system through a concurrent application of pulses to the A-4 and B-2 input terminals, relays R20 and R21 will serve to prevent a voltage from occurring at the 0 terminal of the emitter 65 of the impulse unit until the wiper structure 67 has moved from the 0 position, thus permitting a series of ten output pulses to occur at terminal 71. Rec-apitulating, it has been shown and described how the translating system and controls operate to accomplish a translation of a character representation according to a two-out-of-eight code to a serial pulse representation for the character.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A parallel to serial translator comprising: i

i (a) a source of potential,

(b) a plurality of input terminals,

(c) means for energizing the input terminals selectively in pairs,

(d) a set of input relays, one for each of the input terminals and responsive to the signals applied to the input terminals,

(e) a two and only two input signal checking device controlled by contacts of the input relays,

(f) an incrementally stepped pulse emitter device,

(g) means for incrementally actuating said pulse emitter device,

(b) means responsive to the operation of the signal checking device for rendering the incremental actuating means active,

(i) an output terminal,

(j) an electrically conductive path connecting the potential source and said output terminal and operatively controlled by said pulse emitter actuating means for controllably supplying output pulses to the output terminal,

(k) an output control responsive to the operation of said pulse emitter device for interrupting the supply of output pulses to the output terminal after a predetermined quantity of pulses had been furnished to the output terminal, and

(l) a reset control responsive to the operation of the output control for rendering the pulse emitter actuating means operative to restore the pulse emitter device to its normal position.

2. A parallel to serial translator comprising:

(a) a source of potential,

(b) a plurality of input terminals,

(c) means for energizing the input terminals selectively in pairs,

(d) a set of input relays, one for each of the input terminals and responsive to the signals applied to the input terminals,

(e) a two and only two input signal checking relay device controlled by contacts of the input relays,

(f) an electroma-gnetically operated pulse emitter device,

(g) an alternatively operating relay means for actuating said pulse emitter device,

(h) relay means responsive to the operation of the signal checking relay device for rendering the alternatively operating relay means active,

(i) an output terminal,

(j) an electrically conductive path connecting the potential source and said output terminal and including contacts of the alternatively operating relay means for controllably supplying output pulses to the output terminal,

(k) an output control relay responsive to the operation of said pulse emitter device for interrupting the supply of output pulses to the output terminal after a predetermined quantity of pulses had been furnished to the output terminal,

(1) delay means associated with the pulse emitter device for preventing a premature operation of the output control relay, and

(m) a reset control responsive to the operation of the output control relay for rendering the alternatively operating relay means operative to restore the pulse emitter device to its normal position.

3. A system for translating character representing pulses according to a two-out-of-eight code configuration into serial pulse representation comprising:

(a) a source of operating potential,

(b) a plurality of input terminals for receiving character representing signals expressed in a two-out-ofeight code,

(c) a set of input relays connected with said input terminals and responsive to the signals applied thereto,

(d) a two and only two input signal checking device controlled by contacts of said input relays,

(e) an electromagnetically operated pulse emitter device,

(f) means for actuating said pulse emitter device,

(g) a relay responsive to the operation of the signal checking device for rendering said pulse emitter actuating means active,

(h) an output terminal,

(i) an electrically conductive path connecting said operating potential source and said output terminal and operatively controlled by said pulse emitter actuating means for controllably supplying output pulses to said output terminal,

(j) an output control responsive to the operation of said pulse emitter device for interrupting the supply of output pulses to said output terminal after a predetermined quantity of pulses have been furnished to the output terminal, and

(k) a reset control responsive to the operation of said output control for rendering said pulse emitter actuating means operative to reset said pulse emitter device to its normal position.

4. A system for translating character representing pulses according to a two-out-of-eight code configuration into serial pulse representation comprising:

(a) a source of operating potential,

(b) a plurality of input terminals for receiving character representing signals expressed in a two-out-ofeight code,

(c) a set of input relays connected with said input terminals and responsive to the signals applied thereto,

(d) a two and only two input signal checking device controlled by contacts of said input relays,

(e) an electromagnetically operated pulse emitter device,

(f) means for actuating said pulse emitter device,

(g) a relay responsive to the operation of the signal checking device for rendering said pulse emitter actuating means active,

(h) an output terminal,

(i) an electrically conductive path connecting said operating potential source and said output terminal and operative controlled by said pulse emitter actuating means for controllably supplying output pulses to said output terminal (j) an output control responsive to the operation of said pulse emitter device for interrupting the supply of output pulses to said output terminal after a predetermined quantity of pulses have been furnished to the output terminal, and

(k) delay means associated with said pulse emitter device for preventing a premature operation of said output control.

5. A system for translating character representing pulses according to a two-out-of-eight code configuration mto serial pulse representation comprising:

(a) a source of operating potential,

(b) a plurality of input terminals for receiving character representing signals expressed in a two-out-ofeight code,

(c) a set of hold register relays connected with said input terminals and responsive to the signals applied thereto,

(d) a two and only two input signal checking relay device controlled by contacts of said hold register relays,

(e) an electromagnetically operated pulse emitter device,

(f) alternatively operating relays for actuating said pulse emitter device,

(g) a sample relay responsive to the operation of the signal checking relay device for rendering said alternatively operating relays active,

(h) an output terminal,

(i) an electrically conductive path connecting said operating potential source and said output terminal and including contacts of said alternatively operating relays for eontrollably supplying output pulses to said output terminal,

(j) an output control relay responsive to the operation of said pulse emitter device for interrupting the supply of output pulses to said output terminal after a predetermined quantity of pulses have been furnished to the output terminal, p

(k) delay relay means associatedwith said pulse emitter device for preventing a premature operation of said output control relay, and

(l) a reset control relay responsive to the operation of said output control relay for rendering said alternatively operating relays operative to reset said pulse emitter device to its normal position.

9 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MALCOLM A. MORRISON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PARALLEL TO SERIAL TRANSLATOR COMPRISING: (A) A SOURCE OF POTENTIAL, (B) A PLURALITY OF INPUT TERMINALS, (C) MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE INPUT TERMINALS SELECTIVELY IN PAIRS, (D) A SET OF INPUT RELAYS, ONE FOR EACH OF THE INPUT TERMINALS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE SIGNALS APPLIED TO THE INPUT TERMINALS, (E) A TWO AND ONLY TWO INPUT SIGNAL CHECKING DEVICE CONTROLLED BY CONTACTS OF THE INPUT RELAYS, (F) AN INCREMENTALLY STEPPED PULSE EMITTER DEVICE, (G) MEANS FOR INCREMENTALLY ACTUATING SAID PULSE EMITTER DEVICE, (H) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF THE SIGNAL CHECKING DEVICE FOR RENDERING THE INCREMENTAL ACTUATING MEANS ACTIVE, (I) AN OUTPUT TERMINAL, (J) AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PATH CONNECTING THE POTENTIAL SOURCE AND SAID OUTPUT TERMINAL AND OPERATIVELY CONTROLLED BY SAID PULSE EMITTER ACTUATING MEANS FOR CONTROLLABLY SUPPLYING OUTPUT PULSES TO THE OUTPUT TERMINAL, (K) AN OUTPUT CONTROL RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF SAID PULSE EMITTER DEVICE FOR INTERRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF OUTPUT PULSES TO THE OUTPUT TERMINAL AFTER A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF PULSES HAD BEEN FURNISHED TO THE OUTPUT TERMINAL, AND (L) A RESET CONTROL RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF THE OUTPUT CONTROL FOR RENDERING THE PULSE EMITTER ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVE TO RESTORE THE PULSE EMITTER DEVICE TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. 